U21 star Maguire hopes game of patience pays off

Barry Maguire is hoping his patience will pay off as he looks to secure a regular first-team spot at Motherwell.

The 22-year-old midfielder made his debut against St Johnstone in April 2018 but had a loan spell at Queen of the South the following year before making nine appearances for Well last season.

The Scotland Under-21 i n t e r n a t i o n a l ’s first appearance this season was as a late substitute in the Europa League game against Coleraine in Northern Ireland on September 17 and he has made three more appearances off the bench since.

Maguire, who was called into Scot Gemmill’s squad for the Under-21 European Championship qualifiers against Czech Republic at Tynecastle tonight and San Marino away next Tuesday, hopes to see more action.

He said: “I was hoping to have played a lot more game time by now but I have learned to be patient and try to take my chance when it comes, but I know it’s not going to be a walk in the park. This level is harder than most people looking at it from the outside think but I will take each game as it comes and try to stay in the team when I get a chance.

“It is a learning curve, like life in general, it’s never going to be as easy as it looks.

“I hadn’t played for a while, the first five or six games of the season and before I know it, I’ve ended up playing the past two weeks.

“I played in two European games and played the full second half against Rangers at the weekend and now I am called up by Scotland Un d e r - 2 1 s again – all within two weeks.

“It just shows you how quickly football can change. Getting the call- up was massive for me and it boosts you.”

Scotland have not qualified for the finals of the Under-21 European Championship since 1996.

Gemmill’s side have 11 points from six Group 4 fixtures and can go within a point of leaders Czech Republic with a victory in Gorgie.